Pneumatic tire



Jan. 9, 1940. A. H. SHOEMAKER Q 86,

' PNEUMATIC TIRE Filed Feb.- 11, 1957 2 Shets-Shet 1 IN V EN TOR.

fl/r/h b! Jimemaker 324/6 1 ATTORNE Jam 1940- A. H. SHOEMAKER 2,186, 7

PNEUMATIC TIRE Filed Feb. 11, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

d/r/z Swear/m? ATTORNEY Patented 'J an. 9, 1940 PATENT {OFFICE f 1 PNEUMATIC TIRE Alvin H. Shoemaker, Seattle, Wash.,assignor of one-'half'to'Jacob George "Smith, Seattle, Wash.

Application February 11, 1937, Serial No. 125,183

.flhis invention relates to pneumatic tires --and .the. general obj ectof tthis invention: is I to increase the. stability of'atires ofthis-nature and to render thesame resistant to side step,--side sway, -side deflection and shimmy. I l I .Another. objectiseto provide a pneumatic tire having .inhthe side walls of-the tire andat adistame-outwardly fromthe bead portions thereof, two secondary bead rings around which certain .plys of reinforcing material are passed, said secondary .bead rings serving to stabilize the tire and resist side sway, side -step, -side-deflection .and vshimmywithout materially detracting from the ipliability and elasticity of the tire.

Another obiectisto provide-a tire bead constructionwhich isadapted to provide greater stability. for "the tire when used in connection with substantially any ordinary type of tire reinforc ing and which is particularly :well adaptedfor .use in -connection with radial cord tire reinforcingitogive stability to the tire.-

.Another object of the invention is to provide a pneumatic .tireofthis nature :in which the reinforcing. plys are very firmly connected with the .bead rings by passing-said-plys aroundthe .beadrings-and doublingthe-edge portions of-said .pl-yslback sothat said edge portions extend outwardly the side walls and add to'the reinforcing in-..the side walls.

.Tiresin which the reinforcing cords are positio-necl radially of the tire --and-extendsubstantially directly around the tire-from -a bead ring on one side to a bead ring onthe-oth'er side of the tireare hereinafter referred to-as'radial cord tires. These radial cord tiresare very flexibleand pliable and easy riding and run very-freely-on the road. However they have been found to'be unstable on theiroadland subject'to'side'step, side sway, side .defleetionand shimmy. The present invention overcomes the objectionable features abovementionedrwhenembodiedin a radial cord tire. .However it is to be understood'that said invention is not to be-limited to use in connection withradial cord tires. Another object is to-provide a pneumatic tire which employs chiefly radial cord reinforcing and retainsthe desirable flexibility and pliability inherent .in. radial. cord tires and at the same time is possessedof great stability, :is substantially free from side, step, side sway, side deflection and shimmy and is-adapted tofit onto a rim .of ordinary conventional-type. I

A further object is to providea tire having a non-skid tread design comprising a plurality of annular ribs extending circumferentially and continuously around :the :tire in 1 slightlyxgspaced relation, ..said ribs being inclined outwardly .in

:oppositedirections from the medial plane-.iof the .tire in sucha mannerras to help rtostabilizizng the tire and to provide-an efiicient non-skid for arrangement of the; reinforcing plys and beads in said'stire, the several.reinforcingplys beingshown byisingle lines.

Like. reference .numerals designate like throughout the severalxviews.

Inaccordance :with .this invention I provide parts a tirecomprising side-walls fi,=.a tread portion l .and'bead portions --.8. Embedded within.v the bead portions Ssareaendlessbead rings l9 and is of "a form commonztopneumatic tires and hereinafter termed .main bead rings. :Other endless .bead rings :i' G.;.and .H are embedded -;.within the side- .walls of the: tire ata distance outwardly from the beadportions;18;.and..bead rings 8 and -9. The beadportionsrtof the tire are supported bya drop center .rim :5 1 of :well -known conventional type. The secondary bead ringslfland H are positioned outwardly .in:spac.ed r.elation;from: the side flangesmf .the: rim 5, and are :spacedsapart transversely farther than the. mainrbeadringsil and ';9', -said..sec.ondary beadkrings being insubstantially theewidest part of the tire. The secondary bead'rings' lillzand .l lrare'formed of strong, tough,-.pliable';-materia1 which will not .crystalize and is capable-10fbeingbent and flexed. .These secondary bead rings are preferablypdesigned and arranged to carryv asrmuch tension or stress. as; or 1 more tension .cr stress than, the-primary bead rings, .under service ..conditions. 'One material suitable-for the-.construction of these. secondary bead. rings.- strong .tightly twisted cotton which I provides a :.re1atively;;hard .and solid v.bead ring which is relativelywstrong longitudinally. .It is also practical to use .fine; braided imetal wire for these secondary beads.

.One preferred. arrangement of. reinforcing used in this tire ist diagrammatically shown: in Fig. .2. Preferably this-reinforcing comprises an inner. ply l2:.embed.ded:w1'thin the tire. near the inner peripheral wall thereofwandpassing around-each bead ring ii and .9f and extending back within the side. wall .of the tire substantially to thelocations H. The usual-flipztis .preferablyprovided around .each head ring 9 and 9- .betweenthe 55 bead ring and the reinforcing I2. Also a chafing strip 22 is preferably embedded in the bead portion of the tire so as to extend around each bead ring 9 and 9' just outside of the reinforcing I2. One end of each chafing strip 22 preferably extends outwardly to substantially the location of the adjacent secondary bead ring I0 or II.

A second ply of reinforcing I3 is embedded within the tire just outwardly from the reinforcing I2. This ply of reinforcing I3 extends continuously between the beads II) and II and is doubled about said bead rings I0 and II and extends outwardly in the tire to substantially the location I8. A flip 23 and a chafing strip 24 both of conventional form are provided respectively just inside and just outside of each doubledportion of the reinforcing ply I3 where said reinforcing ply passes around the bead rings I0 and II. It will be noted that each ply I2 and I3 of reinforcing material passes around a bead ring at each side of the tire and extends back substantially through the side wall portion of the tire. This leaves each of said plys single in the tread portion but doubles each of said plys in the side wall of the tire and anchors each of said plys very firmly to the respective bead rings.

Preferably two plies I4 and I5 of highly elastic non-radial cord reinforcing material are embedded in the tire just outwardly from the radial cord reinforcing ply I3. These plies I4 and I5 do not extend entirely to the bead rings and preferably terminate at substantially the locations I9 and 20. These plies I4 and I5 of non-radial cord reinforcing are not anchored to any bead rings at their edges and are made of highly elastic cords. They do not hamper and restrict the desired freedom of action of the reinforcing plys I2 and I3 to objectionable extent but they lend stability to the tire and help to prevent side sway, side deflection, side step and shimmy.

Preferably an outer ply of reinforcing I6 is embedded in the tire. just outwardly from the ply I5. This ply I6 preferably extends entirely around the tire and terminates at the location of the beads 9 and 9. Preferably a chafing strip 25 is provided just outwardly of the ply I6 at the location where the bead portion of the tire engages the rim. 7

In a radial cord tire the two inner plys I2 and I3 and the outer ply I6 are preferably of radial cord constructions.

The tire is preferably built so that when it is finished and inflated as great or greater tension due to air pressure will be carried by the secondary bead rings and reinforcing connected thereto as will be carried by the main bead rings and their reinforcing.

From the above description it will be seen that this tire embodies two main bead rings positioned in the bead portion of the tire in the usual manher, two secondary bead rings positioned in the side walls of the tire outwardly from the main bead rings and spread apart farther than the main bead rings, plys of reinforcing extending around the tire and anchored respectively to the main bead rings and the secondary bead rings and stabilizing reinforcing embedded in the tire outwardly from said other reinforcing plys and terminating short of the bead rings.

The tire is completely lined with air tight rubber lining and this rubber extends around onto the base of the bead portions so that when said bead portions are crowded out and caused to bind tightly on the inclined portions 5' of the rim an air seal will beformed and no inner tube will be necessary. The secondary bead rings I0 and II check the traction wave which would otherwise be transmitted to the bead portions 8 thus preventing movement of said bead portions 8 and making it possible to maintain'the air seal between saidbead portions and the rim.

The secondary bead rings II) and II are positioned radially outward from the main bead rings 9 and 9' and are spaced at greater distance apart than the main bead rings. For this reason, if a force is exerted tending to move either one of the secondary bead rings transversely toward the medial plane of the tire such movement of the secondary bead ring will be resisted by a compression in those portions of the tire between the secondary bead rings and the main bead rings and the result will be a stabilizing of the tire helping to prevent side sway and shimmy. Also the secondary bead rings form a very widely spread apart anchor means for some of the reinforcing plys thus providing a wider base of anchorage and holding said plys more firmly against side sway and shimmy than they would be held if they were anchored-to bead rings positioned closer together.

These secondary bead rings also help to absorb a traction wave which runs through the tire when in use and for this reason help to prevent movement of the bead portions 8 on the rim and thereby make it possible to maintain an air seal between the bead portions 8 and the rim so that no inner tube is needed.

The tread portion I of the tire is provided with an external non-skid portion comprising a plurality of circular ribs 21 extending circumferentially and continuously around the tire in side by side slightly spaced apart relation, the ribs on each side of the medial plane of the tire being inclined outwardly as shown in Fig. 1, so that planes parallel to the sides of said ribs, when projected inwardly toward the rim will intersect at a point between the tread and bead portion of the tire, as illustrated by dot and dash lines 28. These tread ribs being inclined outwardly on both sides of the center of the tire will always maintain their predetermined inclined position under load and the set of ribs on one side of the center will always be inclined in the proper direction to resist by a direct thrust any side deflection, side sway or side step action. In this way these inclined annular ribs have a bracing and stabilizing effect which will always tend to cause the tire to run true.

The employment of the secondary beads hereinbefore described in tires having ordinary conventional reinforcing will add stability to these tires without detracting from the easy riding qualities of the tires. The employment of these secondary beads in tires employing radial cordconstruction as reinforcing makes its possible to construct a tire having greater elasticity, pliability and flexibility than the ordinary tire and at the same time to provide atire having great stability against all forms of side deflection and capable of use under heavy loads and at high speeds.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings clearly disclose what I now regard as a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and'that such changes may be made in the tire as are within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

Iclaim:

- 1. In a pneumatic tire, a tire member having a tread portion, two side wall portions and two bead portions; substantially non-elastic bead rings embedded in said bead portions and extending continuously around the tire in said bead portions; other substantially non-elastic bead rings of larger diameter than said first mentioned bead rings embedded in said side wall portions outwardly from said bead portions in coaxial relation to said first named bead rings; and reinforcing plys embedded in said tire vand connected with said bead rings. I

2. In a pneumatic tire, a tire member having a tread portion, two side wall portions and two bead portions; two substantially non-elastic main bead rings embedded in said two bead portions; two substantially non-elastic secondary bead rings embedded in said two side wall portions outwardly from said two main bead rings and spaced apart farther than said two main bead rings; a reinforcing ply embedded in said tire and anchored to said two main bead rings; and another reinforcing ply embedded in said tire and anchored to said two secondary bead rings.

3. In a pneumatic tire, a tire member having a tread portion, two side wall portions and two bead portions; two substantially non-elastic main bead rings embedded in said two bead portions; two substantially non-elastic secondary bead rings embedded in said two side wall portions radially outward from said main bead rings and spaced apart farther than said two main bead rings in transverse directions; a continuous ply of radial cord reinforcing material embedded in said tire and anchored to said two main bead rings and another continuous ply of radial cord reinforcing material embedded in said tire and anchored to said two secondary bead rings.

4. In a pneumatic tire, a tire member having a tread portion, two side wall portions and two bead portions; two substantially non-elastic main bead rings embedded in said two bead portions; two substantially non-elastic secondary bead rings embedded in said two side wall portions radially outward from said main bead rings and spaced apart transversely farther than said two main bead rings; a continuous ply of radial cord reinforcing material embedded in said tire near the inner peripheral wall thereof and anchored to said two main bead rings; and another continuous ply of radial cord reinforcing material embedded in said tire outside of said first mentioned ply and anchored to said two secondary bead rings.

5. In a pneumatic tire, a tire member having a tread portion, two side wall portions and two bead portions; two substantially non-elastic main bead rings embedded in said two bead portions; two

substantially non-elastic secondary bead rings embedded in said two side wall portions radially outward from said main bead rings and spaced apart transversely farther than said two main bead rings; a continuous ply of radial cord reinforcing materialembedded in said tire member and anchored to said two main bead rings; an-

other continuous ply of radial cord reinforcing.

material embedded in said tire member and anchored to said two secondary bead rings; and

other plys of reinforcing material embedded in bead portions; two substantially non-elastic main bead rings embedded in said two bead portions; two substantially non-elastic secondary bead rings embedded'in said two side wall portionsradially outwardly from said main bead rings and spaced apart'transversely farther than said two main bead rings; a continuous ply of radial cord reinforcing material embedded in said tire member and anchored to said two main bead rings; an-

other continuous ply of radial cord reinforcing material embedded in said tire member and anchored to said two secondary bead rings; highly elastic non-radial cord reinforcingmaterial embedded in said tire outwardly from said above mentioned plys and extending throughout the tread portion and into the 'side wall portion of said tire; and an outer ply of radial cord reinforcing material embedded in said tire externally of said other reinforcing material and extending I continuously around said tire from one tire bead portion to the other tire bead portion.

'7. In a pneumatic tire, a tireinember having a,

tread portion, two side wall portions and two bead portions; two substantially non-elastic main bead rings embedded in said two bead portions; two substantially non-elastic secondary bead rings embedded in said two side wall portions radially outward from said main bead rings and spaced apart transversely farther than said two main bead rings; a continuous ply of radial cord reinforcing material embedded in said tire near the inner peripheral wall thereof extending around said two main bead rings and thence extending back in relatively overlapped relation substantially throughout said side walls; and another continuous ply of radial cord reinforcing material embedded in saidtire member outwardly from said first mentioned ply extending around said two secondary bead rings and thence extending back in relatively overlapped relation substan- ALVIN-H. SHOEMAKER. 

